Roy Hodgson appointed England manager: Today’s press reaction

History tells us that having the support of the media is crucial to any England manager. Fabio Capello was once mocked up as a donkey, Steve McClaren was the Wally with the Brolly, Sven-Goran Eriksson was stitched up by the Fake Sheik, Glenn Hoddle was compared to Mystic Meg, Graham Taylor was a turnip. While some composed themselves amid the scrutiny, many were hounded out.

Roy Hodgson will have to handle the pressure if he is to succeed, but where does he start in the media’s estimation?

During yesterday’s press conference, the West Brom manager admitted he would have to be “living on another planet” to think he was the favoured choice to succeed Capello. Meanwhile, Gary and Phil Neville and, er, Andy Murray have come out this morning against The Sun’s front page treatment of his appointment.

Here, we take a look at how the press treated his unveiling in today’s papers…

THE INDEPENDENT - Back page headline: Hodgson says priority is to sort out Terry-Rio rift

Sam Wallace: “It is said that nothing and no one can prepare a man for being England manager and the level of scrutiny it attracts, comparable perhaps, in British public life, to just a few people in high office. But if Roy Hodgson felt the slightest bit intimidated or overawed by his new job, he did not show it yesterday.

Whether you were a Redknappist or a Hodgsonian, you could hardly deny that at his introduction as England manager, the new man conducted himself with dignity and composure at Wembley. The nature of the job, its highs and its lows – with a tendency towards more of the latter, it should be said – often contrive to rob a man of his composure, but to be fair to Hodgson yesterday he looked as if he has deep reserves of the stuff.”

James Lawton: “There’s no doubt about it. England has a safe hand on the rudder, a man who is not likely to mistake a football tournament for the outbreak of the third world war.

“If the appointment of Hodgson was sound, going to Redknapp would have created another possibility. It was that while the FA would not have acquired a manager so willing to immerse himself at every level of the England operation, they would have been investing in the one English manager who in recent years has consistently produced a body of exciting football.”

THE MIRROR – Out of this world

Introducing a piece entitled Reflecting, reading and not being Redknapp: Hodgson is under fire over the three Rs which looks at 40 things Hodgson has been accused of since emerging as the favoured choice of the FA, Oliver Holt writes: “In the circumstances, Roy Hodgson did pretty well when he was introduced to the media as the new England manager.

“He got out alive, for a start, which, after some of the public reaction to his impending appointment the last few days, could be seen as a significant victory.

“He was limited in what he could say, but it was clear that the job meant something special to him.”

Steve Stammers: “Roy Hodgson’s demeanor is far better suited [than Harry Redknapp] to the job as national coach. He is thoughtful and studious. The perfect man to spend days maybe weeks overseeing development at the new St George’s centre at Burton.

“Hodgson avoids controversy and goes about his business quietly. No, he doesn’t have the explosive nature of Redknapp. Remonstrating on the touchline is not his style. Don’t mistake that of a lack of commitment. He just goes about his work in a more orderly, composed fashion.”

Jeremy Armstrong: “England appointed its cleverest ever manager yesterday – but few think Roy Hodgson is the smart choice to lead the team to glory.

“His love of literature, opera and rare watches make him very different to any manager england has had before – with former Swedish boss Sven-Goran Eriksson’s sexual exploits overshadowing his own multi-lingualism.”

THE SUN – Bwing on the Euwos! (We’ll see you in Ukwaine against Fwance)

The paper’s leader says “Good luck, Roy”, before stressing that Hodgson “wasn’t the nation’s choice. But we can’t blame him for not being ‘Arry.” The Sun’s front page headline, picking up on Hodgson’s speech impediment, has also come in for criticism.

Steven Howard: “As Roy Hodgson walked in to face the welcoming committee at Wembley yesterday, Sky TV were plugging the James Cameron film Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth.

“It was a suitable reminder of most people’s expectations when England travel to Poland and Ukraine this summer.

“Hodgson is under no illusions, either.”

Shaun Custis: “SunSport revealed on Monday that Hodgson would appeal for the fans’ support and yesterday he admitted it was vital.”

DAILY MAIL – Hodgson wants Rio and Terry

Matt Lawton: “He did not arrive on the Ark nor, he said, from another planet, but Roy Hodgson spoke of the ‘40 days and 40 nights’ before England open their European Championship campaign against France – and he did so with a hint of trepidation.

“There were questions that needed to be answered, decisions that needed to be explained. But when it came to the first examination of Hodgson, England manager, the 64-year-old from Croydon gave a decent account of himself.”

Martin Samuel: “For the marshal of a group of mediocre players, supposedly without pedigree and going nowhere, Roy Hodgson cut a surprisingly upbeat figure yesterday.

“Obviously, nobody has told him his summer is slated to end on Tuesday, June 19, in Donetsk, or that he is a safe pair of hands to grind out results, because that is all England can expect these days.”

And…

“With many of the group [England squad] at least ambivalent about his appointment, judging by a deafening silence on Twitter, their preferred mode of communication, the last thing he wanted to do was risk uproar by ditching a player, or a captain, on a rolling news ticker.”

And…

“Not exactly Graham Taylor in 1992 — ‘Sit back, put your feet up and watch us win it’ — but there really is no point taking the England job without a sense of ambition.”

TELEGRAPH- Give peace a chance – Hodgson to tackle Ferdinand-Terry row as he takes charge of England

Henry Winter: “Officials ensured that Hodgson was not photographed anywhere near the bust of Sir Alf Ramsey in the tunnel. Too much expectation would have ensued. All the England shirts used as a dressing-room backdrop for Hodgson portraits were front on, guaranteeing no names of players could be seen. Too much conjecture would have ensued.

“From the Baggies to the baggage of the England job, Hodgson handled the press conferences well, rarely looking rattled. He is the type of character who becomes testy usually only at a single-issue press conference, when the manager is besieged like Rorke’s Drift and the barbs are flying in from all angles.”

Paul Hayward: “Twenty-four hours later it still felt sad that Redknapp’s slightly un-English love of spontaneity and creativity would not be rewarded with what Hodgson himself has called “the crowning glory” of management.

“The winning candidate, though, cannot be expected to be pick up the bill of populist outrage. Nor should he have his record downgraded purely to make Redknapp’s seem even better and thereby to berate the FA.”

THE GUARDIAN – Give me time, give me a chance

Dominic Field: “At Liverpool, where Hodgson endured an unhappy 191 days in charge, the 64-year-old perceived he had suffered because he was not Kenny Dalglish, a situation he potentially faces again, with Redknapp the populist choice for the England post.”

Barney Ronay: “Welcome, Mr Hodgson. We haven’t been expecting you. If there was a fug of unexpected excitement around a drizzle-draped Wembley Stadium on Tuesday afternoon before the enthroning of Roy Hodgson as England’s 13th full-time manager, this was perhaps as much to do with the paucity of expectation previously, the anti-fanfare that had accompanied this most soft-pedalled of England appointments. In fact, so muted was the reaction in the popular press it was tempting to wonder beforehand if Hodgson might use his first public appearance to get it all over with right now and announce his immediate resignation from the job. Hodgson: “I’ve taken this team as far as I can. I’d like to thank the fans for supporting me. Fan. Whatever.”

THE TIMES – Hodgson in bid to broker peace among men at war

Matt Dickinson: “That Hodgson stepped into a world of fierce scrutiny was highlighted when an ancient playing foray into aparteid South Africa was exhumed. But while there was a delicate moment, there was none of the unpredictable that you-know-who would have brought to this occassion. And that is just how [FA chairman David] Bernstein wanted it.”

Oliver Kay: “There will be no surge of electricity through the England squad or the public – real or imagined – going into this summer’s finals in Poland and Ukraine. Hodgson is not that type of manager. He does not fit the profile of boom and bust that is synonymous with England. Any improvement, however small, will not be a product of tub-thumbing or inspirational management, but of endless drills on the training field. This is going to be a very different sort of England to the one that many had envisaged under Redknapp.”

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• Odysseus

  Poisoned chalice if ever there was one. Keep your escape routes clear Roy.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Kelvin-Curtis/1620126779 Kelvin Curtis

  seems like 99% of all football managers positions ends in tears.

• Gary Foster

  Roy Hodgeson is not Harry Rednkapp.

  Failure is imminent

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Peter-Liolis/719916797 Peter Liolis

  Hopefully John Terry can take control like he did at the world cup 2 years ago and as the rumors go he did the same at Chelsea this year .coaches need the support of their senior players they dont need to be undermined by idiots.England need a coach like  Otto Riehagel a coach that takes control and sets  out whats required it worked for Greece in 04.

• snotcricket

  Did England win the 2010 World Cup or go out in the group stages for the 1st time in 50 odd years & did Chelsea win the semi final with 10 men & without said influence?

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Peter-Liolis/719916797 Peter Liolis

  I hope England and Hodgson dont have another coup attempt by Terry and co.We saw what happened to France and England in 2010 ,and it almost happened to Ireland in with Roy Keen spitting the dummy in 2002??     .At least Keen packed his bags and left, and the Irish had a decent tournament

• Michael Wells

  Have any of the Redknapp supporters really analysed why Harry was the only choice? He’s won very little as a manager, he’s learnt by his mistakes certainly, most of which came at Bournemouth and the club I support, West Ham. He did well at Upton Park, but I’m still not sure why he left, and some of his buys there would have been comical had they not been so expensive. Harry’s done remarkably well at Portsmouth and Tottenham, but he’s used to spending when he needs to find a player, and admitted himself he’d find the lack of transfers in would be a problem as England manager.
  My main concerns have become the Harry that can ‘t write well or spell, a self confessed weakness from his successful defence in court, and his two escapes from Portsmouth. Did anyone there want Harry in charge of England or have they other plans for him?
  Harry might have done well, so may Roy, who has a much wider range of experience and qualities to bring to the job. I’m not sorry the FA didn’t bow to the ‘fans and the media’ and give Harry the job. Were there any polls taken of the public’s favourites for the job?
  I recall being told continually that the nation was desperate for Keegan to succeed Hoddle when Glen’s job was in danger. The only poll I heard of was TalkSport’s which, I believe, went 52% Keegan, 48% Hoddle. I guess this time the media largely only had eyes for Harry.

• snotcricket

  The Terry/Ferdinand thingy is a total mess.

  Should Terry go with the threat of being found guilty of what has become a serious allegation if world football………..the sensible view is too much baggage.

  Is it fair to him, innocent until proved etc, probably not.

  But the logical decision would be to leave him at home as the possible disruption & divisiveness in the dressing room could lead to problems with individual & team loyalty.

  They do say the team & result is far more important than the individual, which should make Hogson ecision a bit of a no brainer.

• ardtaraig

  I would like to thank mr brooking for his anti rednapp attitude as without doubt it is he who has led england to another no-hoper. he has at least meant my team will keep our manager and no doubt go on to win things

• cping500

  Mr Hodgson should announce that England is withdrawing from the European Cup and will concentrate on contributing to Mr Pearce’s efforts for the Olympics GB team. It will avoid national anguish and shame being felt by Englishmen as austerity and defeat bites.

  After all The “English” Premier Division is mostly foreign owned and staffed by immigrants. How can “English” kick and rush soccer hope to survive let alone beat the Euro’s proven experts ?